“Being a bishop is serious business with heavy responsibilities I would not wish upon anyone, let alone a friend or a brother.” So writes Robert Brennan— who speaks with some authority, since his brother is Bishop Joseph Brennan of Fresno.

If you’re not prepared for suffering, you shouldn’t be a bishop. Particularly today, when a bishop who takes a strong stand for the faith can count on vicious criticism, and, sadly, cannot count on much support from his colleagues or from Rome.

Which is why, informed sources tell us, more than a few priests are declining episcopal appointments.

True, there are still plenty of priests eager for higher office. Unfortunately, those aren’t the best men for the work. “Miter-envy” should be a disqualifying trait.

Robert Brennan has it right: “Any man who would receive that fateful call from the papal nuncio and reacting saying ‘it’s about time’ would not make a good bishop in my book.”